New Law Could Require Smart Glasses to Show a Blinking Light When Recording

People wearing smart glasses may soon have to make it obvious when they are recording others.

Lawmakers in Pennsylvania have proposed a new bill that would require smart glasses to display a visible recording indicator, such as a blinking or illuminated light, whenever photos, videos, or audio are being captured. The goal is to prevent people from secretly recording others without their knowledge.

Most smart glasses already have a small indicator light. Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, for example, turn on a front-facing LED whenever the camera is active. However, there is currently no law requiring companies to include such a feature, and there are few restrictions preventing users from disabling it.

The proposed legislation would make it illegal to record people using smart glasses if the recording light has been removed, blocked, or intentionally turned off. Retailers would also be required to inform customers about the state’s recording laws before selling the devices.

The push comes after reports revealed that some users have been modifying smart glasses to hide the recording light. In some cases, people have used stickers or even drills to disable the indicator, allowing the glasses to record without anyone noticing.

Privacy concerns surrounding smart glasses have grown as wearable technology advances. Companies like Meta are also exploring future features, such as facial recognition, which adds to concerns about how these devices could affect privacy.

The bill has not yet become law, but it highlights a growing effort by lawmakers to ensure that smart glasses remain transparent when they are recording. If approved, Pennsylvania could become one of the first places to require a visible recording light on wearable cameras.